BIOCHEMICAL-CHANGES THAT OCCUR IN PLANTAIN (UNRIPE) AND CASSAVA PEELS DURING PROCESSING (SUN-DRYING)

Cassava (Manihot spp) and green (unripe) plantain (Musa spp., AAB group) peels are a cheap source of feed to ruminant livestock in Ghana. Since cassava and plantain availability in large quantity is seasonal, effective utilization of the peels can be obtained by sun-drying (processing) to increase its dry matter content and enhance its storability. A study was conducted to determine the effect of sun-drying on the chemical components of the peels with the view to enhance peel utilization by small scale ruminant livestock farmers in Ghana. The colour and texture of the peels changed appreciably after processing. The observed peel to pulp ratios (wet basis) were 53:47, 40:60, and 21:79; and 36:64, 27:73 and 15:85 (dry matter basis) for French-, and False-horn plantains and cassava, respectivley, Significant increases in dry matter content (15.14% to 94.00%, 17.51% to 91.00% and 30.02 to 87.64%) for French-, False-horn plantain and cassava peels, respectively, resulted from the processing (P<0.05). Sun-drying increased the acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN). But decreased substantially reducing sugar, chlorine, and iodine concentrations (non significant, P>0.05) in the sun-dried peels. The treatment does not seem to influence the quality of feed in terms of energy and digestible organic matter.